Wááshindoon Weekly

Yá'át'ééh! In this edition of the Wááshindoon Weekly, we present three important stories impacting the Navajo Nation. First, Arizona's innovative approach to tackling homelessness; second, the urgent need for understanding and bolstering state-tribal relations; and last, the advocacy for environmental justice within the Navajo Nation.

Yá’át’ééh! This week, President Buu Nygren and Speaker Crystalyne Curley of the Navajo Nation were actively engaged in Washington, DC, advocating for various critical issues affecting Navajo communities. It through these critical advocacy efforts that we collectively navigate complex challenges for meaningful change.

A lot has happened in the last three weeks since we last wrote. The biggest event that we failed to cover was that the Navajo Nation Council convened for their Winter Session, at which President Nygren was invited to present his State of the Nation address and answer their questions. Read more in this weeks Wááshindoon Weekly.

On December 13th, the Department of the Interior published a final rule incorporating changes to the regulations governing the implementation and enforcement of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The rule aims to streamline the process of returning Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred items, and cultural patrimony to their lineal descendants, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations (NHOs).

Yá'át'ééh! In this week’s issue of the Wááshindoon Weekly, we cover several legal cases from recent weeks that are of pivotal importance to Indian Country and have come to the forefront of our national consciousness.

In this week's issue of the Wááshindoon Weekly, we focus on key developments in Native American affairs, highlighting several stories that have a direct impact on the Navajo Nation.

Yá’át’ééh, Another week has passed which means another week of news and updates from Washington, DC. In this week’s edition of the Wááshindoon Weekly, we cover several stories that will take us through the heart of our nation, highlighting significant events that touch on public safety, education, sustainable energy, and healthcare.

Yá’át’ééh! It's time for another edition of the Wááshindoon Weekly, bringing you the latest news and insights on the most pressing issues of our time. This week, we delve into the aftermath of a significant Supreme Court decision, the ongoing political turmoil within the US House of Representatives, and a nationwide push to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.

Greetings, readers of the Wááshindoon Weekly! This week the Navajo Nation Washington Office is excited to provide you with the latest updates and highlights within Indian Country.

This week, the Navajo Nation made its presence known on Capitol Hill with two significant hearings. Our Navajo leaders emphasize the importance of tribal sovereignty in matters of water access and energy development, calling for support from federal entities to achieve economic security, self-determination, and environmental sustainability.

The Navajo Nation Washington Office staff were able to reconnect with our community in Window Rock, AZ. They witnessed all aspects of the Fair, including the Miss Navajo Nation competition that highlighted the importance of cultural preservation. Overall, the visit allowed us to recenter our advocacy for the Navajo Nation in Washington, DC, and we extend our deepest gratitude to those who made the 75th Annual Navajo Nation Fair a success–most importantly our Navajo people.

This week, the Wááshindoon Weekly brings you crucial updates on the Navajo Nation's efforts in fighting for their rights, preserving their lands, and fostering justice. We highlight four stories that respectively address violence against indigenous women, the legal status of Bears Ears, the enforcement of municipal laws against Native Americans, and the safeguarding of lands near the Grand Canyon.

This past week was a particularly active one for the Navajo Nation Washington Office, as we strive to represent our community's needs and priorities at the national level. Our President, Dr. Nygren, took center stage and demonstrated leadership on our behalf in two influential congressional committees.

The Navajo Nation Washington Office (NNWO) continues to work tirelessly to address pressing issues impacting the Navajo Nation and all Indigenous communities across the United States. This past week, our efforts have spanned from New Mexico to Washington D.C., demonstrating our unwavering commitment to addressing critical matters of tribal sovereignty, justice, and societal welfare.

This week, the Navajo Nation Washington Office (NNWO) continues to tirelessly work on the interests of the Navajo people, tackling a variety of pressing issues from water rights to access to information.

This week the Navajo Nation Vice-President, Richelle Montoya, was in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the Water Resources Design Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). The award highlighted the achievements of Souder, Miller & Associates innovative design for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP) that will provide water from the San Juan River to eastern section of the Navajo Nation, southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the city of Gallup, NM.

The Navajo Nation Washington Office has had a busy week in the nation's capital, advocating for the needs of the Navajo people. From meetings with Congressional representatives to attending policy briefings, the NNWO has been working tirelessly to ensure that the voices of the Navajo Nation are heard.

This week has everyone on edge as we continue to monitor the debt ceiling negotiations. Fortunately, there has been a deal and the Navajo Nation Washington Office will analyze the text as it becomes available and goes through Congress.

Last week was another busy week for the Navajo Nation Washington Office. To start, NNWO participated in the Government Accountability Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council as a representative for the Navajo Nation.

The first major event was NAFOA’s DC conference, which was attended by Delegate Parrish, Slater, and Damon, as well as a representative from the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development. NAFOA was founded over forty years ago as the Native American Finance Officers Association with a focus on ways tribal finance can help in developing economic opportunities for tribes. They typically host two large conferences each year, with experts presenting on a wide variety of issues that can impact tribal economies and governance. Federal officials are frequently among the presenters, including Secretary Granholm, from the U.S. Department of Energy, who encouraged tribes to apply for clean energy grants that have fast approaching deadlines. Other presentations included an update from the U.S. Treasury, an analysis of how the current U.S. Supreme Court could impact tribal sovereignty, potential tax reforms being debated by the U.S. Congress, and practical reviews of issues from foreign trade, cannabis production, and cybersecurity.